The arrested suspect was a flight attendant on board at the time, who could be facing jail, pending the outcome of the trial in Dubai. According to proceedings in court, the brothers were with their parents on board as the family was returning from Thailand where they sought medical treatment for their ailing father.

It was when the two vacated their seats to check on their dad that the theft took place. When they returned, the money in their wallets, which were left on their seats, was missing. One originally had more than $2,600 in it, with the other missing around 9,000 dirhams (about the equivalent of $2,400 US). Attendants were notified on the spot and so were the police when the plane finally landed in Dubai.

The authorities combed through the plane and couldn't find anything. That was until an officer discovered a banknote still remaining in one of the wallets with a fingerprint on it. The print turned out to be a match with one of the attendants.

independent.co.uk

The suspect denied any wrongdoing at the time until he was informed of the evidence pointing in his direction. That's when the cuffs were snapped on the attendant, who later admitted stealing the money. He then confessed that while police were investigating the crime scene, he got scared about the consequences of his actions. Once he left the plane, the attendant headed for a washroom in one of the terminals at Dubai International Airport, where he flushed all the money down a toilet.

However, in court, the accused changed his story and has since denied any wrongdoing. He'll have another opportunity to explain his case when the trial resumes in Dubai's Criminal Court on Nov. 11th.

Theft is a serious crime in Dubai, where even cases concerning small amounts of cash can result in a six-month jail term. Theft in the workplace involving much higher amounts could range between five to seven years, depending on the discretion of the judge.